Remembrance Day is much more than just a holiday, it is a day to honor and to salute those valiant soldiers who sacrificed their lives so we can exercise the freedoms and rights that we enjoy on a daily basis.
Let’s all make sure we take a moment to recognize that November 11th commemorates the many Canadians who have died in the line of duty.
In addition, Remembrance Day is about ideals and what we stand for.
It’s about respecting our past and looking hopefully forward, and thanking those who have served.
Here’s one of the many tributes that helps put today in proper context:
We must remember. If we do not, the sacrifice of those one hundred thousand Canadian lives will be meaningless. They died for us, for their homes and families and friends, for a collection of traditions they cherished and a future they believed in; they died for Canada. The meaning of their sacrifice rests with our collective national consciousness; our future is their monument.
~Heather Robertson, A Terrible Beauty, The Art of Canada at War*, Toronto, Lorimer, 1977
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All teams prefer to play at home but is it really that much of an advantage?
There are recent examples in 2016 to suggest not. Here’s a look.
The Chicago Cubs took the World Series overcoming a 3-1 deficit with their last two victories on the road in Cleveland.
(Just two years earlier, the San Francisco Giants captured the Fall Classic by winning the 7th and deciding game on the road in Kansas City)
The Cleveland Cavaliers won their first NBA title by going the same route as the Cubs, winning two of the last three on the road at Golden State, including the decisive game seven 93-89.
The Pittsburgh Penguins captured the Stanley Cup this year in San Jose after failing to clinch in game five on home ice.
Home teams failed to win even 50 per cent of the games in this year’s CFL regular season going 37-43-1.
In the NFL, with the season at the midway point, the best teams still have not lost on the road.
New England and Dallas lead their respective Conference at 7-1, yet both teams have a perfect 4-0 away record.
The resurgent Oakland Raiders are 7-2, and that includes going 5-0 on the road.
Closer to home, the Prince George Cougars are following this trend.
The WHL leaders in points are 14-4-2, including an 8-1-1 mark on the road. It wasn’t until their 10th away game that the Cougars lost in regulation and that occurred just last night (Thursday) in Vancouver when they dropped a 4-2 decision to the Giants.
I am not sure anybody has an answer why this year in particular there are so many key examples from a wide variety of sports leagues where the home team has melted under the pressure.
In the long run, athletes, coaches and management will always suggest publicly they prefer to play in front of their fans.
Perhaps this year’s evidence suggests that the tide has turned.
The Cubs had the biggest burden on their shoulders in 2016 with the 108 year drought constantly front and center.
Without a doubt, they played their best most composed baseball in Cleveland (going 3-1) rather than in Chicago (just 1-2).
The Cavaliers were given little chance to win the pivotal 7th game in Oakland, yet they gave a resounding historical performance against big odds to end Cleveland’s 52 years of sports agony.
There is comfort in knowing “home sweet home” and “there is no place like home.”
Maybe the new slogan should read that “teams often make hay when they play away.”
From the Quote Rack:
The Philadelphia Eagles cut receiver Josh Huff after his arrest for DUI and possession of a weapon. In NFL justice, it might have been better for Huff if the gun had been loaded instead of him.
Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
A Rhode Island youth football team of 13-and 14-year-olds got kicked out of its league for sneaking a grown man into its lineup. On the bright side, Tim Tebow scored 12 touchdowns.
Conan O’Brien of TBS
I’m not saying the officials in Monday’s Seahawks-Bills game were in the tank, but even the referees from the 1972 Olympics basketball game said they were embarrassed.
Comedy writer Marc Ragovin
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was ejected Sunday after throwing a towel at an official. Had Kelce hit the guy he might have received an offer to QB the Cleveland Browns.
Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
Donald Trump thanked New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick for his support and responded to him via email, “Thanks, but we’re now on to Washington!”
Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver http://alwaysfunny.com/
An 85 year old life-long Chicago Cubs fan died just hours after the team won the World Series. The family is sending a note of thanks to Steve Bartman for giving him another 13 years of life.
Comedy writer Jim Barach
After holding a lead in all of the major polls heading into the Election, Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump in one of the most shocking upsets. And you thought the San Francisco Giants’ bullpen collapsed against the Chicago Cubs.
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
And in case you missed it:
Tuesday, Nov 8th, 2016 will always be remembered as significant, news worthy, remarkable and absolutely historic. It was a stunner of a result and defied all odds.
Yes, Loui Eriksson, in his 14th game with Vancouver, finally scored his first goal for the Canucks.
Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the Goat. He also is the 94.3 radio color commentator for P.G. Cougars home games.
His column appears Fridays on myprincegeorgenow.com.
Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]
Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller
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